?Kids with fine motor problems may have difficulty with self-care: things like getting dressed, doing zippers and buttons, handwriting and cutting?all those skills that they?ll need in school? says Joan Vertes, an occupational therapist based out of Toronto?s Sick Kids Hospital.
The term ?fine motor skills? refers to the use of the small muscles of the hands and the wrists. Often poor handwriting is the first red flag that there?s an issue in the early school years. Or parents may notice that a younger child is overtaking an older sibling with skills like tying their shoelaces, colouring inside the lines or getting dressed.

Kids who?re struggling might also start acting like the class clown in school. ?Their self-esteem is affected,? explains Joan. ?A lot of kids I see are above average or at least average IQ, but they feel like failures. They don?t want people to realize they?re having difficulties with basic skills, so they pretend they?re doing things on purpose.? Fine motor skill challenges may result from birth trauma, a physical injury, or developmental disabilities such as Down Syndrome or autism spectrum disorder. ?Or sometimes a kid simply has poor coordination,? explains Vertes.

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